Portrait of James Shigeta

James Shigeta

Acting

Biography

James Saburo Shigeta (June 17, 1929 – July 28, 2014) was an American actor, singer, and musician of Japanese descent. He was noted for his roles in The Crimson Kimono (1959), Walk Like a Dragon (1960), Flower Drum Song (1961), Bridge to the Sun (1961), Die Hard (1988), and Mulan (1998). In 1960, he won the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Male, along with three other actors. In his early career, Shigeta often played romantic male lead roles, which were almost nonexistent for an actor of Asian descent during his time, making him a trailblazer in Asian American representation in media. The Goldsea Asian-American Daily magazine listed him as one of the "Most Inspiring Asian-Americans Of All Time". Before his Hollywood career he found success as a pop singer and performer abroad, especially in Japan and Australia.

Born: June 17, 1929

Place of Birth: Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, USA

Filmography

2025
2022
Yorktown: A Time to Heal

as Admiral Heilachiro Nogura

2009
2006
2005
Avatar: The Last Airbender

as Old Wanderer (voice)

2003
Threat Matrix

as Kang Sok-Joo

2000
Brother

as Sugimoto

1998
Mulan

as General Li (voice)

1997
Drive

as Mr. Lau

1996
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest

as Inspector Mantjur (voice)

1996
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest

as Dr. Yamashiro (voice)

1996
Space Marines

as Ambassador Nakamura

1995
Midnight Man

as Mao Mak

1994
1994
Babylon 5

as Taro Isogi

1993
seaQuest DSV

as Vietnamese President Chi

1992
Renegade

as Mr. Ota

1990
China Cry

as Dr. Sung

1989
Cage

as Tin Lum Yin

1988
Die Hard

as Joseph Yoshinobu Takagi

1987
Jake and the Fatman

as Mr. Koso Nakasone

1984
Murder, She Wrote

as John Sukahara

1984
1984
Airwolf

as Colonel Tranh Van Zung

1983
Masquerade

as Makko

1983
1982
The Renegades

as Jimmy Lee

1982
Tomorrow's Child

as Donald Shibura

1982
T. J. Hooker

as Chow Duc Khan

1980
Magnum, P.I.

as Richard Enoka

1980
Magnum, P.I.

as Mr. Obotu

1979
Samurai

as Takeo Chisato

1977
The Love Boat

as Bud's Father

1976
Once an Eagle

as Lin Tso-Han

1976
Midway

as Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo

1975
Ellery Queen

as Stephen Yang

1975
Matt Helm

as Tom McCauley

1974
The Yakuza

as Goro

1974
The Rockford Files

as Clement Chin

1974
1973
Lost Horizon

as Brother To-Lenn

1972
Kung Fu

as Master Kwan Li

1972
Kung Fu

as Col. Lin Pei

1969
1969
Medical Center

as Dr. Osaka

1969
Operation Heartbeat

as Chief Resident

1968
Escape to Mindanao

as Lt. Takahashi

1968
Hawaii Five-O

as Joseph Matsukino

1968
Manila, Open City

as Captain Murakami

1968
Nobody's Perfect

as Diver Toshi O'Hara

1967
Death Walks in Laredo

as Lester Koto

1966
1964
Carol for Another Christmas

as Japanese Doctor

1963
Burke's Law

as Sidney Ying

1963
The Outer Limits

as Maj. Jong

1963
The Outer Limits

as AIO Captain Newa

1961
1961
Bridge to the Sun

as Hidenari Terasaki

1961
Ben Casey

as Dr. Harvey Lee

1961
Dr. Kildare

as Dr. Roy Shigera

1961
1960
1959
The Crimson Kimono

as Detective Joe Kojaku

1958
Naked City

as James Kam

1957
Perry Mason

as Ward Toyama

1944
Golden Globe Awards

as Self - Audience Member

1944
Golden Globe Awards

as Self - Nominee